Chapter 38

I returned home from Niorich.

In front of the Buddhist altar, Grandma was making a V sign with a smile that could make anyone speechless.

The flowers on both sides of the memorial photo were the ones Aina had picked.

Even after Aina started working at my shop, she would pick flowers every day and give them to me as a gift.

"Grandma, you always told me, didn't you? If someone is in trouble, help them."

The first time she said it was when I was still in kindergarten.

Grandma would say this every chance she got.

"Shirou, if you see someone in trouble within your reach, do your best to help them. If you do, when you are in trouble, the people you've helped will help you."

At the time, I didn't know the proverb 'kindness is not for others' until much later.

"Watch this, Grandma. I'm going to help someone now."

There are people in trouble within my reach right now.

And it's not just that they are in trouble.

They are in trouble to the point of being in danger of losing their lives.

"Well, let's do this."

Niorich has a population of 600.

About 30 of them are suffering from vitamin deficiency, which is roughly 5% of the town's population.

I start by taking out 100 silver coins.

"Equivalent Exchange Skill, activate!"

In front of me, the silver coins disappear, and 100 10,000 yen bills appear.

I use the 1 million yen as capital to buy various vitamin supplements from the drugstore.

I store all the vitamin supplements in my spatial storage and transport them to Niorich.

Back in Niorich, I work with the mayor, Karen, Aina, and the members of 'Blue Lightning' to distribute the vitamin supplements to the people living on the outskirts of town.

After distributing them, I focus on securing food.

I use the money I've earned to buy vegetables from farmers and meat from hunters and adventurers.

Every day after work, I cook with Aina and others, providing nutritious meals to the people living on the outskirts of town.

One month has passed, and finally, that day has come.

Knowing that Aina lives on the outskirts of town, I made it a daily routine to send her home after closing the shop.

The evening bell rings, I close the shop, and send Aina home.

When Aina opens the door with a smile, saying "I'm home," there stands—

"Welcome home, Aina."

Stella was standing there.

She was standing on her own, without any support.

She was still a bit wobbly, probably due to the loss of muscle strength from being bedridden.

"Mom..."

"Hehe. Look, Aina, Mom can stand now. Isn't that amazing?"

Stella proudly smiles.

As for Aina...

"A, ah... Mom... You can... stand...?"

"Yes. I can stand. I can even walk. It's all thanks to Shirou."

Aina's face contorts, and she bows her head.

Her small back is trembling.

"...Mom, you're... feeling better...?"

"Yes. I feel so good, it's almost a problem."

"Then... will you... sleep with Aina...?"

Tears start to fall from Aina's feet.

I try to pat Aina's back but hold back.

Yeah. That's right.

This isn't my job.

Thinking this, I go to Stella's side and whisper to her.

"Stella, please reassure Aina."

"Of course."

Stella responds in a low voice, then moves to Aina's side with a little help from me.

Aina is crying.

Aina, who has been crushed by anxiety for so long.

Only her mother, Stella, can stop Aina's tears.

"Aina, let's sleep together every day from now on."

Stella gently hugs Aina.

"Aa... Mom... Mommmm!!"

Aina cries uncontrollably.

The tears are so intense, it's hard to imagine coming from the smart and hardworking Aina I know.

"I'm sorry for worrying you so much. From now on—"

Tears well up in Stella's eyes as she continues.

"Let's live together."

I gently close the door and step outside.

The setting sun is beautiful.

Facing the setting sun,

"If Grandma were alive, would she praise me?"

I murmur to myself.